Information about

The Missouri River

Basin Association

The Missouri River Basin Association (MRBA) is a coalition of Governor-appointed representatives from each of eight Missouri River Basin states (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming) and the Executive Director of the Mni Sose Tribal Water Rights Coalition.  Representatives of eight federal agencies serve as advisors to the MRBA Board of Directors.

The MRBA provides a forum for the discussion of issues such as endangered species recovery and drought flow management.  In 1995, the Association initiated a major planning effort to enhance the basin's economic and environmental resources.  To develop the plan, MRBA worked closely with representatives of major river interests, including navigation, recreation, municipal water supply, fish and wildlife, hydropower, and flood/drought control.

The Association published the Missouri River Planning Recommendations in April 1988 with broad support by the basin's states and Indian tribes, river users throughout the basin, and federal agencies.  The planning effort continues as the Association helps develop recommendations for a new river operating plan.

The Association also supports environmental monitoring of the river system and asked the basin's fish and wildlife managers to develop a monitoring and research plan for the basin.  Completed in 1998, the Missouri River Environmental Assessment Program, when funded, will provide the scientific foundation for Missouri River management.